Helping out

As part of my general theme of encouraging participation in democracy, I've been encouraging people to lobby, submit, vote, and generally make their voice heard. I've also suggested helping out on election day, for those who want to help the whole democratic process along. But at election time there's also a far more direct way to participate, and one which directly helps the party of your choice: helping out with the campaign itself.

Election campaigns run on volunteer labour. Every candidate needs a team of people to knock on doors, deliver leaflets, write press releases, answer the phones, conduct visibility campaigns, lick stamps, check hoardings for vandalism, attend policy launches, drive in cavalcades, run the loudspeakers, get the coffee, and generally do all the other scut work involved in campaigning for the vote. And its important: as Huskynut pointed out when he suggested I post this information,

This is shaping up to be a gloves-off, razor-thin race.. getting people effectively motivated and mobilised will be key to winning for the left. Apathy is the enemy!

So, if you'd like to help out, then here's how:

If you'd like to help Labour, you can find out who your local Labour candidate is here. Either contact them using the information on their candidate page, or email Jenny Michie, or (if you'd like to work with someone you've heard of before) Jordan Carter.

If you'd like to help the Greens, contact the Green Party's Campaign Manager, Russel Norman, on (04) 801-8336 or email campaign.manager@greens.org.nz. You can find out who your local Green candidate is from their party list, and contact their local organisation directly here.

If you'd like to help the Progressives, you can find out who your local candidate is here, and you can volunteer either by using this online form, or by emailing volunteer@progressive.org.nz.

If you'd like to help the Alliance, email Jill Ovens, or use the regional guide to find your local group.

Any of the above will contribute to the goal of a left-wing, Labour-led government, so use whichever vehicle you prefer.